Wall structure



Oct. 3, 1961 w. R. HESS WALL STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 14, 1959 AT To ZN EYS United States Patent 3,002,591 WALL STRUCTURE Walter R. Hess, 3333 Park Ave., Union City, NJ.

Filed Aug. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 833,790 2 Claims. (Cl. 189-34) The present invention relates to a wall structure formed by panels and connectors joining adjacent panels together.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wall structure which lends itself to the construction of metal truck and trailer bodies, tool sheds, garages, houses, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wall structure which is assembled from panels and connected without using bolts or other fastening means and without drilling or welding, one which lends itself to construction of wall panels in all sizes, one which lends itself to the construction of truck and trailer bodies in all widths and lengths, and one which lends itself to assembly and disassembly by relatively unskilled mechanics without the use of special tools.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall structure for truck or trailer bodies in which door openings may be altered as desired, a wall structure which is simple in construction and having few components, and one which is economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a wall structure constructed according to the present invention, with a central portion of the structure broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the connector employed with the panels of the present invention in forming the wall structure shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the wall structure of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and comprises at least a pair of upstanding panels 12 and 14 arranged in longitudinal aligned relation. Each of the panels 12 and 14 has a first vertical leg :16 projecting perpendicularly from each end thereof.

Another or second leg 18 projects inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of the first leg 16.

The panels 12 and 14 are arranged so that the legs 16 abut each other along their entire lengths with the legs 18 facing away from each other.

A connector, designated generally by the reference numeral 20, embraces the abutting legs 16 and the associated legs 18 of the panel ends. The connector 20, connecting each of the adjacent panels 12 and 14 together, embodies a web 22 and a pair of side flanges 2'4 and 26 projecting in diverging directions from one side of the web 22. The connector 20 also includes an end flange projecting inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of each of the side flanges 24 and 26, such end flanges being designated by the numerals 28 and 30, respectively.

The free ends of the end flanges 28 and 30 of each connector 20 are spaced from each other. The abutting legs 16 of the panels 12 and 14 extend through the space between the free ends of the end flanges 28 and 30 and the legs 18 abut and bear against the inner face of the web 22 of the connector 20 securing each of the adjacent panels 12 and 14 together. The end flanges 28 and 30 of each connector 20 bear against the underfaces of the adjacent portions of the structure panels 12 and 14.

Each connector 20 has a projection 3-2 projecting inwardly from the portion of the side flange 26 adjacent to and spaced from the web 22 and another projection 34 projecting inwardly from the portion of the other side flange 24 adjacent to and spaced from the web 22, as shown in FIGURE 2. j

The space between each of the projections 3-2 and 34 and the adjacent part of the Web 22 forms a groove.

Each groove, as at 36 in FIGURE 2 with reference to the projection 34, is at the side flange 24 or 26 with the web 22.

The end portions of the legs 18 of each panel 12 and 14 extend into the grooves 36 formed between the projections 32 and 34 and the adjacent part of the web 22. The grooves 36 embodying anchoring means at the juncture point of each of the flanges 24 and 26 with the web 22 receiving the adjacent parts of the legs 18 or" the panels 12 and 14.

In use, the wall structure 10 is assembled by placing the panels '12 and 14 in longitudinal aligned relation with the legs 16 in abutting relation and with thelegs 18 facing away from each other. A connector 20 is then slidably connected to the adjacent leg 16 by sliding the connector 20 over the abutting legs 16 and legs 18 with the portions of the legs 18 adjacent therein received in the grooves 36 and with the end flanges 28 and 30 abutting the inner faces of the panels 12 and 114.

With the connector 29 embracing the legs 16 and 18 of the panels 12 and 1-4, the legs 16 extend through the space provided between the free ends of the end flanges 28 and 30. A feature of the invention resides in the resiliency of the connector 20 so that the diverging side flanges 24 and 26 have a tendency to spring toward each other closing the space between the free ends of the flanges 28 and 30, this, when each connector 20 is in position connecting the adjacent panels 12 and 14 together, serves to tightly hold the abutting legs 16 of the panels 12 and 14 in close abutting weather-sealed relation resistant to opening movements from each other as a result of vibration when the panels 12 and 14 are assembled as the sides, top, or ends of a truckor trailer body.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wall structure, at least a pair of upstanding panels arranged in longitudinal aligned relation, each panel having a first vertical leg projecting perpendicularly from each end thereof and a second leg projecting inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of the first leg, the panels being arranged so that the first vertical legs abut each other along their entire lengths with the sec-0nd vertical legs facing away from each other, a connector embracing the abutting first legs and associated second legs of the adjacent panel ends, said connector embodying a web, a pair of side flanges projecting in diverging directions from one side of said web, and an end flange projecting inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of each of said side flanges, the free ends of said end flanges being spaced from each other, the abutting first legs of said panels extending through the space between the free ends of said end flanges with the associated second legs abutting and bearing against the inner face of said web, and the end flanges bearing against the underfaces of the adjacent portions of said panels, and anchoring means at the juncture point of each of said side flanges with the web, the adjacent end portions of the associated second legs being received in said anchoring means.

2. In a Wall structure, at least a pair of upstanding panels arranged in longitudinal aligned relation, each panel having a first vertical leg projecting perpendicularly from each end thereof and a second leg projecting inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of the juncture point of the adjacent first leg, the panels being arranged so that the first vertical legs abut each other along their entire lengths with the second vertical legs facing away from each other, and a connector embracing the abutting first legs and associated second legs of the adjacent panel ends, said connector embodying a web, a pair of said flanges projecting in diverging directions from one side of said web, and an end flange projecting inwardly of and perpendicularly from the free end of each of said side flanges, the free ends of said end flanges being spaced from each other, the abutting first legs of said panels extending through the space between the free ends of said end flanges with the associated second legs abutting and bearing against ,4 the inner face of said web, and the end flanges bearing against the underfaces of the adjacent portions of said panels, there being a groove at the juncture point of each of said side flanges with the web, the adjacent end portions of the associated second legs being received in the groove for receivingly enclosing the adjacent end portions of the associated end legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,102,247 Whelan Dec. 14, 1937 2,875,866 Hess Mar. 3, 1959 

